Life & Work with Buzzy Jackson of Boulder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Buzzy Jackson.

Hi Buzzy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Books have been central to my life since childhood. My father, Jon A. Jackson, is a novelist, and my mother, Ruth J. Hall, ran a bookstore, so storytelling has always been a big part of my life. I spent my childhood in Truckee, California and various spots around Montana. As an undergraduate I was an English major, but I got my PhD in History from UC Berkeley because I wanted to learn more about the past. Since then, I’ve published 4 books, with a new historical novel coming from Dutton in 2027.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
If you choose to make writing your vocation, you have to know you’re signing up for a financially precarious career (and you will be working other jobs to support your writing habit). After college I lived in NYC for a couple years and worked in a literary agency. That experience was invaluable; I learned so much about how the publishing world works, and I also read hundreds of unsolicited manuscripts and query letters that arrived every day. At first I was afraid that reading them would discourage me from trying to write, myself. But I quickly saw that most of the submissions were just… OK. That gave me some confidence!

I then went to UC Berkeley to get a PhD in History, one of the best experiences of my life. I learned how to do archival research, oral histories, and gained a much better understanding of our history. It was exhilarating. My goal in getting a PhD was to publish my dissertation, a history of American women blues singers, with a commercial publisher. Thanks to my publishing experience, I knew how to search for a literary agent, signed with one, and was delighted when W.W. Norton made me an offer. That became my first book: A Bad Woman Feeling Good: Blues and the Women Who Sing Them.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m delighted and quite surprised to find myself now writing historical fiction, a genre I never expected to explore. With my most recent novel, To Die Beautiful, I actually intended to write it as a nonfiction biography of the incredible life of Dutch Resistance fighter Hannie Schaft, and I did all the historical research I would do for any academic work. But as I wrote the book, I felt something was off. My literary agent suggested writing it as a novel. Although I was intimidated by the idea at first, as soon as I experimented with the form, I knew it was a much better book. I’m proud of writing it, my first published novel, and also proud of the fact that the book is based on real research. My readers tell me they appreciate that; it makes them feel like they’re really learning something. Which they are! And I did, too.

If I am known for anything, I think it is for bringing a strong foundation in research to my historical stories. Every book I’ve written includes footnotes; I always insist on them because I want my readers to know what they’re getting is rooted in reality. In a world filled with misinformation, I believe it’s more important than ever to check your sources and allow your readers to fact-check for themselves. I hope I am known for my artistic and historical integrity. It’s a great honor to write about real people and their often difficult lives, and I take that responsibility seriously.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
When it comes to my writing career, the thing I am most proud of is sticking with it. A long time ago I told myself that, no matter what, even if I never got published again, I would never stop writing. Never. I figured, if you never give up, there’s still a chance to win. But there’s no chance if you quit. I have a note on my desk that I read every day: JUST KEEP GOING. That’s what I intend to keep doing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.buzzyjackson.com
• Instagram: @buzzy_jackson
• Facebook: buzzyjackson.50
• LinkedIn: Buzzy Jackson
• Youtube: @buzzyworldwide

Image Credits
Andrea Scher
Buzzy Jackson